Improvement in machines for forming rands for boot and shoe heels



, T. BULLOCK Machines for Forming- Rands for Boot and Shoe Heels.

N o 158,901, f v I PatentedJa nQfQJWs.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

THOMAS BULLook, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FORMING RANDS FOR BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,901, dated January 19, 1875; application filed October 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BULLocK, a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Turning the Runners for Heels of Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification:

Heeled boots and shoes usually have a-strip of leather denominated a runner or rand. That portion of the bottom of the sole to which the heel is to be attached is convexly arched downward, and, before the heel is attached, requires to be made level. This levelingis accomplished by means of a strip of leather, thick at one edge, and beveled from there to the thickness of a wafer at the other edge. This strip is bent into about a'three-quarter circle, the thick edge making a greater curve, and bent so as to fit the outer edge of that part of the sole to which the heel is to be affixed, the thin edge being reduced in length by being erimped and folded. This strip, which is the runner or rand, is next placed upon the heel portion of the sole, and fastened thereon. The outer edges of the ends of the runner are placed even with the edge of the sole, and pointing toward the toe. The result accomplished by this attachment of the run ner is that the heel of the sole is level, and in readiness for theattachment of the several thicknesses of leather of the heel.

My improvement consists of a number of devices, which receive the runner while yet a straight piece of leather, and curve it into a figure of the shape and size best for attachment to the heel portion of the sole. In particular, one of my improvements consists in the employment of a disk, preferably beveled and roughened, capable of rotation, operated in combination with a feed-wheel, and a guide,

and a pressure-r0ller, whereby the runner, being introduced between the feed-wheel and the disk, will be turned or curved to the propthe opperation of the machine. face of this disk D is beveled down from the disk, the guide, the feed-wheel, and the pressure-roller in relation to each' other, so as to cause the aforesaid part to turn a runner of a given figure in the most rapid and effective manner.

The advantages of my invention are, that by it a single operative can make a very great number of runners in'a day; and that the figure given the runner by it is uniformly correct. The first advantage insures cheapness in the manufacture of turned runners. The second advantage insures great accuracy in their manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents, in perspective. my improved machine for turning runners. Fig.2represents anelevation of that end of myimproved machine whichis on theleft hand in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a central vertical longitudinal section of the feed-wheel and of a portion of the shaft which operates it, showingone mode of adjusting the feedwheel in its operating the shaft. Fig. 4 represents one form of pressure-roller to be used in my improved machine. Fig. 5 represents another mode of adjusting the feed-wheel and its shaft.

A designates the upper portion of the frame of my machine, hinged at the rear to a fixed support. The front end of frame A rests upon a fixed upright, B, and is held in place by two cheeks, X, one of the latter being placed on each side of the frame A. These cheeks allow vertical motion to the frame A. (Mr si gnates arod pivoted I at its upper end to frame A by a pivot, a, and at its lower end connected with a treadle or other adjustable mechan-.

ism for elevating it. I) designates the disk for supporting the runner while subjected to The upper center outward to the edge, and has radial corrugations. This disk revolves upon a standard, E, by means of a journal projecting from the bottom of the disk, and journaled into the top of standard E. The latter is fixed to a standard, F, which slides in a sleeve, 0, the latter being preferably parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the axis of shaft N.

' Arm F can be set at any desired point along the sleeve by means of set-screw d screwed through the sleeve 0 and against the arm F. This sleeve is, for convenience, made a part of the upright 13. A feed-wheel, I, having a toothed periphery, is over the inner portion of the top of. the disk D, and is attached to a horizontal shaft, N, rotated by any suitable mechanism or power. The teeth of the feed-wheel may be either square or pointed. Their preferable shape is pointed, being a little more beveled away on that edge which is toward the frame A than on the other side. This feed-wheel is capable of being adjusted horizontally nearer to or farther from the center of the disk in various ways, among which are the following: By a socket in the end of the holding-shaft N, receiving the rod of the feed-wheel, (see Fig. 8,) and a set'screw, s, screwing into and through the shaft N, setting the feed-wheel at any desired distance from the end of the shaft N. Again, (see Fig. 1,) by the arrangement of a nut, r, screwing onto that end of shaft N which projects beyond its rear journal-box, and a spiral spring, P, surrounding the shaft, and compressed between the other side of the same journal-box and a projection, O, on the peripheryof the shaft. When the latter arrangement is employed the feed-wh eel maybe solidly fixed to the shaft. A third device for adj usting the feed-wheel I consists (see Fig. 5) in placing two adjustable collars on the shaft N,

one, Y, on the outside of therear journal-box of said shaft, and the other, Y, on the inside of said journal-box. One of these collars may be attached to the gear-wheel or pulley fixed upon shaft N and operating said shaft. These collars are set at any point upon the shaft-N by the set-screw Z, each screwed through its respective collar and against the shaft N. In front and a little behind the center of the feedwheel I is the pressure-roller J. The ends of its axis are horizontal, and are journaled in and suspended by a vertical forked holder, e, one end in each fork of the holder. This roller is, preferably, a cylinder. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,'but may be of the form of a truncated cone, the smaller end of the roller in that case being nearest the center of the disk, Fig. 4. The fork by which the roller is suspended is a part of a vertical shaft, e, which passes through circular holes in holding-plate 'f, andsupporting-plate f, both plates being fixed to and supported by frame A. The shape of the shaft 6, where it passes through the plate f and through the plate 9 lying on said plate, is square. The square hole of plate 9 fits closely the square of the shaft. Avertical circular slot in one part of plate 9 receives a set-screw, h, which screws into the supportingplate f. On the upper portion of shaft 6 is a screw-thread, which, above the supportingplate f, is engaged by a nut, Q, which latter rests on plate f, and supports the shaft 6 and roller J. A spiral spring, m, encircles shaft 0, and is compressed between the under side of supporting-plate f and a projection or shoulder, W, fixed on said shaft, and located a short distance above the plateg. Guide E, beginning at the front, near corner of frame A, extends across the end of the frame and around behind the disk B far enough to suitably turn the runner and deliver it from the machine. The guide is provided with a flange, t, which rests against the front side of the frame A, and is secured thereto by means of a set-screw, a, passing through a horizontal slot in the flange, and screwing into the frame. The guide is also provided with two lips or guards fastened to its upper edge and projecting over the disks. One of these guards, at, is in front of the feed-wheel. immediately behind said wheel.

In operating my machine, I adjust the guide H, by means of the slot in the flange t and set-screw u, farther from or nearer to feedwheel I, according as it is desired to turn the runner into a circle of a greater or less diameter. The disk D is to be adjusted by moving arm F to the right or left through the sleeve 0, and then tightening the set-screw when the desired position has been reached. Where the device shown in Fig. 3 is employed the feedwheel I is adjusted by moving the shaft 73 of the feed-wheel in shaft N and tightening the set-screw S. Where the device 0 I? 'r, Fig. 1, is employed the feed-wheel is adjusted by turning the nut a", Fig. 1, and moving the shaft N to the right or the left.

When the collars y 3 Fig. 5, are employed the feed-wheel and the shaft N may be adjusted by first loosening the set-screws Z of the collars, then moving the shaftN to the right or the left, as may be desired, and then, while keeping the collars close against the journalbox, tightening the set-screws Z. I regard the latter method of adjustment as the preferable one. Where the feed-wheel is nearer to the center of the disk, and farther from the guard, it has a tendency to make the turn of the runner more rapidly--that is, to shape the runner into a smaller circle. The pressure-roller J is next adjusted by turning nut Q, so that'it will press the runner when introduced between it and the disk sufficiently to fold down and solidify the crimps and folds formed out of the thin inner edge, while the runner is shaped up by the machine into the desired figure.

The precise angle which the axis of roller J should make with the axis of feed-wheel I, -so as to roll the runner in the best manner, will vary according to the size and the thickness of the runner to be turned. To adjust the roller to make the desired angle, loosen setscrew h and turn the shaft 6 till the roller takes the desired position; then tighten the set-screw 71.. When a roller is needed that shall press more heavily upon the outside of the runner the roller J is to be substituted for roller J. It is better to moisten the runners before turning them.

The operator now introduces a runner between the feed-wheel and the disk, the thick edge of the runner being placed against the inner side of the guide H and under the guard The other, a, is

n. The shaft, if not in continuous rotation, is now rotated, and the feed-wheel carries the runner along against the guides, the latter all the while turning and shaping the runner into the desiredfigure, and the pressure-rollerpressing down and solidifying the folds, which are formed of the inner edge of the runner, the

disk D. rotating with the movement of the runner, and supporting it during the process of turning it. The 7 runner follows the guide around, and, by the action of the feed-wheel and disk, is presented at the front of the machine to the operator, who receives it, meanwhile introducing a fresh runner into the machine. The same process is repeated with this and each succeeding runner.

In case the runner should be so limp as to be with difliculty inserted between the feedwheel and the disk the operator raises the frame through the agency of rod 0 and the treadle or other mechanism employed for this purpose. He then places the end-of the runner upon the disk under the feed-wheel. He no w allows the frame to drop till it rests upon the upright B. The feed-wheel now engages the runner, and, when rotated, turns the latter in the manner heretofore mentioned.

If preferred, the face of the disk may be left smooth, the roughening of it not being'necessary to its operation.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for turning the runner for boots and shoes, the combination of the" disk D, feed-wheel I, pressure-roller J, and guide H, substantially as set forth;

2. In a machine for turning the runners of boots and shoes, the pressure-roller J, in combinationwith slotted plate 9 and set-screw h, whereby the roller may be set at any desired angle with the vertical plane passing through the shaft of the feed-wheel I.

3. In a machine for turning the runners of boots and shoes, the adjustable guide H, provided with guards n n and slotted flange t, as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a machine for turning the runner of boots and shoes, the disk D, standard E, and longitudinally-adjustable arm F, arranged to receive and support the standard, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 5. In a machine for turning the runners of boots and shoes, the feed-wheel I and shaft N, provided with adjustable collars y y for rendering the feed-wheel and shaft adj u'stable.

6. In a machine for turning the runners of boots and shoes, the feed-wheel I, shaft 2', in combination with shaft N and set screw S,-for rendering the feed-wheel adjustable.

- THOMAS BULLOCK. Witnesses D. P. KENNEDY, R. J. GANETTE. 

